What you can do to stretch a dollar…

Thanks to blog world I stumbled upon a ministry called Angel Food Ministries about a year or so ago and have been hooked ever since. For much less than $100 I can get enough food to feed my family of 5 dinner for the entire month. Sounds unreal, right? It isn’t.

The best thing about this ministry is that it is for everyone. High income, low income, middle income, it doesn’t matter. This is a ministry that distributes food at low costs to any family who wants it and the more people who order from them the better because that increases the variety and quantity of the food that we can purchase. They also have boxes of food just for senior citizens and allergen free food.

Here is a description from the website:

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 35 states. Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines and has spread the good news of the gospel of Christ through salvation tracts that are placed in each food order.

The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.

Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can receive, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system.

It’s both a Bargain and a Blessing!

Once I get the food home I can find many menus complete with recipes that are specifically for Angel Food boxes. Hillbilly Housewife has one of the best setups for this that I have seen and I use her site often. Here is the latest menu and recipes for the boxes I just brought home: July Menu. So I go there, check out the recipes I’ll use, print her grocery list (yes, she does it all for you) and head to the store to get a few items to go with the food as well as lunch and breakfast items for the week. When I get home I prepare as much as I can ahead of time and then schedule the rest in a menu planner. Most of the veggies and fruit are cut up and stored in the freezer or fridge depending on when I’ll be using them.

The Hillbilly Wife’s lists are based on using the one signature box and stretching it out all month. The signature box is $30 and the cost of the additional groceries are anywhere from $50 to $100 so the most you’d spend for dinner in a month is about $130, depending on the average price in your area of course!

Now this food looks very generic but you aren’t paying for packaging and that is why it is so inexpensive. When you read the labels these are the same well known companies that you find in the grocery stores.

I typically get some of the meat specialty boxes as well and just grab some pasta and rice to go along with it. A favorite of ours is pesto pasta with grilled chicken. Simple and cheap!

Here is how it works…

• Visit their website: Angel Food Ministries
• Click on the “Order Online” button
• Type in your zip code
• Find the host site nearest you and click on the “full details” button
• Scroll down to view the current month’s menu
• Decide what boxes you would like to order
• Click on the “order online” button and process payment
• Receive an email of confirmed purchase and payment and then they will also email you a reminder the night before you are to pick up your food
• On delivery day, print out your receipt and take it to the host site
• Bring the goods home!

It really is that simple! Here is what I purchased for this month (as shown in the photos).

Basic Box ($30)
1.5 lb. New York Strip Steaks (4 x 6 oz.)
1.5 lb. Boneless Port Roast
1.5 lb. Lean Ground Beef
2 lb. Chicken Stir-Fry Skillet Meal
12 oz. Deli Sliced Ham
5 oz. Chunk Light Tuna in Water
1 ct. Fresh Veggie Fajita Kit
4 ct. Large Baking Potatoes
1 lb. Frozen Sliced Carrots
12 ct. White Corn Tortillas
1 lb. Pasta
25 oz. Pasta Sauce
1 ct. Cello-Wrapped Celery
32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk
Dozen Eggs
Dessert

4.5-lb Gourmet Flavored Chicken Breast Box
1.5-lb Italian
1.5-lb Lemon Pepper
1.5-lb Honey Mustard

Fresh Fruit & Veggie Box
1 Red Seedless Watermelon
1 Vine-Ripened Cantaloupe
1.5-lb Tree-Ripened Plums
3-lb Granny Smith Apples
1-lb Seedless Grapes
3 Large Limes
4 ears Sweet White Corn
2-lb Yellow Onions
1 head Iceberg Lettuce
3-lb Baking Potatoes
1-lb California Carrots
1 pkg Jumbo Garlic (5 ct.)

There are quite a few other places where you can go to get recipes and menus for Angel Food boxes. They have their own Facebook page and a recipe generator right on the sit
e! You can’t beat the quality of this food for the price you pay. It really is good stuff.

If you use Angel Food let me know your ideas and where you get recipes or if you are considering purchasing Angel Food boxes let me know. I’d love to hear from you!

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